nk497 writes: "Apple has kept its place on a controversial green registry, despite previously suggesting its products wouldn't meet the necessary requirements. Earlier this year, Apple walked away from EPEAT — a green buying guide — leading to speculation that new MacBook Pros wouldn't meet its recycling requirements. After a bit of a backlash, Apple rejoined the group, and EPEAT said it would verify the devices in question. According to EPEAT's CEO, the group looked at all "ultralight" unibody laptops on the registry, finding all conformed to the four issues in question: whether they were upgradable, if tools were easily available, and if the battery and screen could be removed easily for recycling. The ideas behind some of those decisions may raise eyebrows: anything is upgradeable if it has a high-speed connection, such as to allow an external hard drive, and tools are "easily available" if they can be bought online — rather than if it uses standard screws."Link to Original Source